OVERSEAS TRADE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 121, 17 February 1944, Page 4

OVERSEAS TRADE

Imports At Record High

Level FIGURES FOR 1943

A sharp increase in exports and a slight increase in imports pre shown in the overseas trade figures for December, compared with December, 1942, released yesterday by the Customs Department. For 1943 exports are lower than in 1942, while imports, which include lend-lease supplies and defence materials and equiprnent, are at a record high level, resulting in an unfavourable trade balance of £22,884,000 against a favourable balance in 1942 of £27,205,000. For the first six months of the production year, which opens on July 1, exports are at the highest level for many years. Exports during December, 1943, totalled £7,240,000, compared with £4,188,000 in December, 1942, an increase of £058.000 000. Imports for the pidnth were, valued at £7.070,000, compared with £6,418,000 December. 1942, an increase of £058,000. For the month there was a favourable balance of £164,000 against an unfavourable balance in December, 1942, ot il,030.000. For the 12 months of 1943 exports were valued at £71,840,000 against £BO,875,000 for 1942, a decrease of f9,03.>,000. Imports for the year totalled £94,724,000, compared with £53,670,000 in 1942, an increase of £41,054,000 the unfavourable trade balance for the year being £22,884,000 against a favourable balance in 1942 of £27,205,000. The following is a comparison of ex ports and imports for the past six motnhs: , Excess of

For the first six months of the production year, which opens on July’ 1, exports were valued at £38,196,000,-com-pared with. £37,658.000 for the same period of the preceding year, an increase of £546.000. Imports for the six months totalled £52.354,000 against £29,401,000 in the previous six months, an increase of £22,953,000, leaving «n unfavourable balance of £14.158,000, compared with a favourable balance of £8,257,000 in the preceding period. ' The figures for the first six months of the past six production years compare as under: — ’ Excess of

All values are expressed in terms of New Zealand currency.

Exports. £(N.Z.) Imports. £(>'.Z.) Exports. £(N.Z.) 1043 .... 7.1,840,000 94,724.000 ♦22.884,000 1012 .... 80,875.04’0 53,670,000 27.205.000 1941 .... 67,479.000 49,467,000 18,342,000 1940 .... 73,741,000 48,098.000 24,743,000 1939 .... 5S.049.000 49,387,000 8,662,000 193S .... 58.376,060 35,422,000 2.954,000 ‘Excess of Imports.

JulyExports. Imports. Exports. Dec. ' £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) 1943 .... 38,190,000 52,354,000 *14.153,000 1942 .... 37.658.000 29.401.000 8.257.000 1941 .... 30.823,000 27.110.009 3.713.000 1040 .... 29.109.000 24.12S.000 4.081.000 1239 .... 21,227.090 21.200.000 27.000 193S .... 21.009,000 2S.313.000 •7,244,000 ♦Excess of imports.